The efforts of the Soviet Union since the mid-1950s to develop naval power have produced one of the strongest navies in the world, but this achievement has not been without serious costs. The construction of increasingly complex submarines, ships, and aircraft has required greater investment of resources and manpower. This volume addresses whether the Soviet Union will continue naval expansion and what directions technological development will take in the future. In particular, the contributors consider trends in submarine, aircraft carrier, and surface combatant systems and examine what implications these developments have for U.S. defense planning over the next two decades.

The efforts of the Soviet Union since the mid-1950s to develop naval power have produced one of the strongest navies in the world, but this achievement has not been without serious costs. The construction of increasingly complex submarines, ships, and aircraft has required greater investment of resources and manpower. This volume addresses whether the Soviet Union will continue naval expansion and what directions technological development will take in the future. In particular, the contributors consider trends in submarine, aircraft carrier, and surface combatant systems and examine what implications these developments have for U.S. defense planning over the next two decades.